Vented lids for hot drink cups



Nov. 8, 1966 w. L. MILLER 3,

VENTED LIDS FOR HOT DRINK CUPS Original Filed April 10, 1961 41 W H qrINVENTOR WILLIAM L. MiLLEE.

United States Patent 3,283,939 VENTED LIDS FOR HOT DRINK CUPS William L.Miller, Skokie, 11]., assignor to Continental Can Company, ind, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Apr. 10,1961, Ser. No. 101,979, now

Patent No. 3,193,130, dated July 6, 1965. Divided and this applicationNov. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 410,866

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-44) This application constitutes a division of mycopending commonly assigned application for US. Letters Patent, SerialNo. 101,979, filed April 10, 1961 and now Patent No. 3,193,130.

This invention relates generally to closures for beverage containers,and more particularly seeks to provide an improved closure for cups inwhich hot beverages such as coffee are packaged for carry-out sales.

When a paper cup or other container is filled with a hot beverage, suchas coffee or the like, and capped with a lid or closure of paper orplastic or combinations therewherein provision is made for permittingescape of vapor to the atmosphere while hiding unsightly markings on theclosure brought about by liquid seepage, and also preventingobjectionable out-spilling of liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of thecharacter stated wherein attaching media are provided by whichattachment to a cup or other container may be effected, a floor,surrounding bead and cover means are provided cooperating in theprovision of a vapor and liquid seepage receiving com-' partment orchamber, together with a vapor egress orifice opening through the floorinto the chamber, the cover being disposed to close over and hide anyunsightly markings on the floor resulting from liquid seepage into thechamber and provision also being made for the escape of vaporfrom thechamber past the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved closure ofthe character stated wherein the provision for vapor escape from thechamber past the cover is by way of a restricted passage about an edgeportion of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of thecharacter stated wherein the provision for vapor escape from the chamberpast the cover is by way of a restricted orifice in the cover. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure of thecharacter stated wherein the orificing in the closure chamber floor isformed in a raised portion of the floor thereby to minimize chances ofreturn seepage into the cup on which the closure is affixed of liquidwhich previously has seeped from the cup into the closure chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure ofthe character stated wherein the chamber floor and the overlying coverdisk are bonded together at central portions and the peripheral marginof the disk rests in vapor pressure displaceable contact on the chamberdefining bead.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedclosure of the character stated wherein the chamber floor has a ventingorifice and an upstanding protuberance spaced downwardly from theoverlying cover and defining a surrounding annular wall in the chamberbetween the floor, bead and cover, the cover being bonded to the beadand having a venting orifice therein inwardly of the bonding.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a crosssectional view illustrating a preferred form of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the beaded floorportion of the closure body with the cover disk which is to cooperatetherewith, the condition of the floor portion and disk prior toattachment thereof one to the other being illustrated.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating another form ofthe invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, and showsthe relation of the floor portion and the cooperating cover disk priorto attachment one to the other in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating anothermodification of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the floor portion andcooperating cover disk of FIGURE 5 prior to attachment-of the cover diskto the bead as shown in FIGURE 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, theimproved closure includes a disk-like body 5 having provision at itsperiphery, as generally indicated at 6, for attachment to a cup or othercontainer generally designated at 7. It is to be understood that theclosure of this invention is preferably an all plastic vacuum formstructure, but the same may be formed as a composite of plastic, such aspolystyrene and paper.

The cup generally designated at 7 in which a hot beverage such as coffeemay be packaged for carryout sales in FIGURE 1 includes the usual bodywall 8 which is flared as at 9 toward its open mouth defined by theoutwardly turned curl 10. While the closure attaching means at theperiphery of the closure may take various forms, in the presentdisclosure the same includes a heel or plug wall portion 11 receivablein the flare of the body as illustrated in FIGURE 1, a channel 12 toreceive and embrace the cup mouth curl 10 and an outer skirt portion 13.The skirt is shown as equipped with inwardly projective flexible anddeformable elements or detents 14 for yieldably engaging under the curl10 in the manner for removably securing the closure or the cup as shownin FIGURE 1.

The closure body may be equipped withone or more annular strengtheningribs 15, and it is also formed to include an upstanding annular beadgenerally designated 16 and which defines therewith a floor portion 17preferably including a raised central portion 18 having a ventingorifice 20. The raised central portion 18 and the bead 16 definetherebetween a generally annular damlike chamber or area 21.

The bead 16 provides a supporting shelf on which is supported theperipheral edge 22 of a cover disk 24, as is best illustrated in FIGURE1 of the drawing.

In this form of the invention the cover disk 24 is bonded centrally tothe floor portion 17 at 36, said disk and floor portion being bothdished out of the normal planes and being brought together during thecentral bonding as illustrated in FIGURE 1, thus to yieldably hold theperipheral edge portion 22 of the disk against the upper extremity ofthe head as a vapor pressure displaceable venting means. Any liquidseeping through the orifice 20 will be trapped in the chamber 21 and thefloor portion 17 which might take on a messy appearance as a result of aliquid seepage will be hidden by the cover disk 24. Vapor venting intothe chamber between the floor portion 17- and the cover disk 24 mayescape by pressure displacement of the peripheral edge 22 of the disk 24from the supporting bead or rib 16 and the yieldable retention of thedisk periphery against the bead will serve to trap a measure of vaporpressure which will be effective to minimize liquid seepage back throughthe orifice 20 into the cup. Also, the cover disk 24 will prevent anyobjectionable out-spilling of liquid which may have seeped into theclosure chamber or compartment 21.

The condition of the closure disk 24 and the cooperating floor portion17 prior to bonding of the central portions thereof together as at 18 inFIGURE 1 is shown in FIGURE 2.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, a closure body 38includes an upstanding bead 39 and a floor portion 40 having a centralraised portion 41 presenting a damming wall 42. The floor portion 40 isalso provided with a venting orifice 43. As in the form of the inventionshown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the cover disk 44 is bonded at 45 to a centralportion of the floor portion, in this instance, on the central raisedportion 41-with the peripheral edge of the disk resting upon the head 39and being displaceable in the manner and for the purpose described inconnection with FIGURE 1.

The condition of the closure disk 44 and the cooperating floor portion40 prior to the bonding thereof together centrally at 45 is shown inFIGURE 4.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES and 6, a closurebody 47 includes an upstanding head 48 and a floor portion 49, thelatter having a central raised portion 50 presenting a damming wall 51and having a central venting orifice 52. The cover disk 53 has a ventingorifice at 54 and its peripheral margin is bonded at 55 to the upperextremity of the upstanding bead 48. As in the other forms, a vapor andseepage receiving chamber is provided between the floor portion 49 andthe overlying cover disk 53, the cover disk serving to hide any messyappearance of the floor portion due to seepage of liquid into thechamber and vapor venting being provided for at 52 and 54. The conditionof the floor portion 49 and the cooperating cover disk 53 prior to thebonding at 55 is shown in FIGURE 6.

As was previously stated, the closure structure may be wholly formed ofplastic, or the main body may be formedof plastic and cover disk ofpaper may be employed. In the .bonding of the cover disk to the floorportion, or to particular portions, any suitable adhesive may beemployed. Where heat scalable materials are used, the bonding may be byheat sealing, or where plastics are employed, volatile solvents may beemployed in providing the desired bonding.

While preferred and alternative forms of the invention are disclosedherein, it is to be understood that additional structural modificationsand part arrangements may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure of the type described comprising a disclike body havingmeans at its periphery for efiecting attachment to a cup or othercontainer, said means being an annular curl, an upstanding annular beadradially in wardly of said curl, a floor portion encompassed by saidbead, said bead and floor portion defining a chamber, an imperforatedisc having its peripheral margin freely resting on said bead, said discbeing bonded to said floor portion, there being included venting orificemeans opening through the floor portion into the chamber for thecontinuous and uninterrupted passage of vapor pressure into said chamberfrom a cup to which the closure is adapted to be attached, additionalventing orifice means for permitting the escape of vapor pressure fromthe chamber to atmosphere, said first-mentioned venting orifice meansbeing an opening in the floor portion whereby vapor pressure is free tocondense in said chamber after passing through said opening, and saidsecond-mentioned venting orifice means being defined between theperipheral margin of said disc and said upstanding annular bead wherebysaid peripheral margin is movable away from said annular bead under theinfluence of vapor pressure in said chamber to permit the escape of thevapor pressure to atmosphere.

2. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said floor portion includesa raised portion, and said raised portion partially defines chambermeans into which vapor is free to condense and is prevented fromre-entering the cup.

3. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said floor portion includesa generally centrally axially upwardly disposed raised portion, saidraised portion being the portion of said floor portion bonded to saiddisc, and said opening is offset from the disc-like body axis.

4. The closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said disc and floorportions are slightly concavely contoured and open in opposite axialdirections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,048 12/1933Punte 22044 2,027,137 1/1936 Yeomans. 2,115,340 4/ 1938 McCrosson.2,170,738 8/ 1939 Thompson 22044 2,242,966 5/ 1941 Burkardt. 2,263,96911/1941 Ingram 22044 2,429,984 11/ 1947 Berglund 251--119 2,643,024 6/1953 Cronheim 22044 2,723,072 11/ 1955 Sayford 2291.5 X 3,090,537 5/1963Pasciak 229-15 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,264,539 5/1961 France.

GEORGE O. RAISTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A DISCLIKE BODY HAVINGMEANS AT ITS PERIPHERY FOR EFFECTING ATTACHMENT TO A CUP OR OTHERCONTAINER, SAID MEANS BEING AN ANNULAR CURL, AN UPSTANDING ANNULAR BEADRADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID CURL, A FLOOR PORTION ENCOMPASSED BY SAIDBEAD, SAID BEAD AND FLOOR PORTION DEFINING A CHAMBER, AN IMPERFORATEDISC HAVING ITS PERIPHERAL MARGIN FREELY RESTING ON SAID BEAD, SAID DISCBEING BONDED TO SAID FLOOR PORTION, THERE BEING INCLUDED VENTING ORIFICEMEANS OPENING THROUGH THE FLOOR POTION INTO THE CHAMBER FOR THECONTINUOUS AND UNINTERRUPTED PASSAGE OF VAPOR PRESSURE INTO SAID CHAMBERFROM A CUP TO WHICH THE CLOSURE IS ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED, ADDITIONALVENTING ORIFICE MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE ESCAPE OF VAPOR PRESSURE FROMTHE CHAMBER TO ATMOSPHERE, SAID FIRST-MENTIONED VENTING ORIFICE MEANSBEING AN OPENING IN THE FLOOR PORTION WHEREBY VAPOR PRESSURE IS FREE TOCONDENSE IN SAID CHAMBER AFTER PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND SAIDSECOND-MENTIONED VENTING ORIFICE MEANS BEING DEFINED BETWEEN THEPERIPHERAL MARGIN OF SAID DISC AND SAID UPSTANDING ANNULAR BEAD WHEREBYSAID PERIPHERAL MARGIN IS MOVABLE AWAY FROM SAID ANNULAR BEAD UNDER THEINFLUENCE OF VAPOR PRESSURE IN SAID CHAMBER TO PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF THEVAPOR PRESSURE TO ATMOSPHERE.